11.) [audio.]

[ijustlivehere]

Okay, yeah, this sucks. I'll admit it, okay? I hate that nobody ever wants to... no, y'know what? Forget people not ever wanting to do anything, people don't even hardly know I'm there unless I say something. It blows and I hate it and I'm... lonely. Okay? I said it, are you all happy now?

Comments

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[He hands the screwdriver again and nods.] That and having an excuse to eat way too much candy.

Any idea what you're going as this year?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Lucy has to think about that a moment. She wiggles her pursed lips back and forth as she tries to decide.]

I don't know. I didn't celebrate last year 'cause I was mad at the City for bringing me back like from Daddy's funeral.

[She aims the screwdriver at one of the paint cans, squints one eye shut and blows away a paint can, splashing everything in the immediate area with bright yellow paint. Luckily they're standing a decent distance away.]

I have a slave Leia costume. You could dress up as Luke Skywalker and we could do lots of making out in public. [Because it's wrong and funny. Or at least Lucy thinks it's funny.]

I'M BACK BITCHES, frak you computer problems

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

We'll have to make this year good, then.

[He gives her a tentative hopefully-reassuring smile. When the paint can explodes, he applauds.]

Paint was a good idea. Leia's a good idea, too. [And he smirks, because yeah, it's funny because it's wrong.] I always thought I was more of a Han Solo type, but either way it works.

YOU SHOWED THEM

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

We'll see. It's a long ways off and the City has this whole thing about taking away people I like.

[She returns the smile with a tentative one of her own that turns to a bigger grin.] Yeah, someone here is brilliant. [She winks at him.]

You know Han Solo gets the girl. [Sort of an observation. Maybe a warning. Possibly a suggestion. Who really knows at this point.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not going anywhere.

[He fixes her with a really serious stare at the bit about Han Solo and tries out his best Harrison Ford voice.] I know. [But then he cracks a smile and bursts out laughing.]

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

At least you don't plan on it. The City might have other ideas.

[The laughing is a good thing. It keeps the whole thing from being awkward or too serious.] And what if I like just Neil better? 'Cause I'm pretty sure after Han got the girl, the girl stopped being interesting so he had to go find another girl that was more interesting. First alien hottie in a bar and Leia was a passing thought.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Annnnnd there is that stupid grin again.]

You're choosing me over Han Solo?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Oh she likes the stupid grin. Way too much for her own good. She shrugs and tries to be casual about it.]

If I'm going to a Halloween party with someone, I'd rather it be someone who is still going to like me in the morning. You passed that test. Or you fake it really well. Either way, you're getting picked over Han Solo.

[Halloween is totally code for 'date' and like is code for 'not ditching me' but the sentiment is there.]

You still have to dress up as him.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Nah, I'm kind of a bad actor. [More grinning.]

I am okay with this.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Lucy bites her bottom lip, just watching him for a few seconds. Her stomach does the twisty, fluttery, butterfly thing. It would be so easy to fall back on Harry as an excuse and try to scare Neil away with a warning that the Master would kill him if he knew about the whole liking thing. Its a cop out though. One that doesn't really work so well. Of course the Master might kill him if he knew but that's neither here nor there since the Master hasn't been around in months.]

Can you just kiss me because my brain is trying really hard to go haywire and it wants to influence my mouth and not thinking plus not talking is the best option right now.

[Does she look terrified right now? Probably. Definitely nervous in any case.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[The terrified look might be slightly mutual, because now Neil is experiencing that thing again where girls do things he doesn't understand, and he can't figure out if it's his fault or what to do next. Thankfully, Lucy has given him a helpful instruction here.]

Y-yeah, I could do that.

[He lays a palm against her cheek and leans in to kiss her, still a little bit timid, even now. When he pulls back, he gives her a cautious smile.] You... okay?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[She tiptoes up into the kiss a little, eyes closing and letting out a breath when the kiss breaks. She nods, then opens her eyes, forcing a bit of a smile.]

Peachy. Better. I have this thing--you're not going to be offended if I have to go throw up, right?

Because it's a me thing. Not a you kiss thing.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

N-- uh, okay.

[Right, that's not what he was expecting.]

Like a... medical thing, or whatever?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[She smooths her hands over her hair, pushing stray hairs off her forehead and shakes her head.]

It's more of a nervous thing. Less of a medical thing. I get nervous. I throw up. [She takes a deep breath.] I think I'm okay though. [She puts one hand back on his waist, twisting his tee shirt around her fingers. With her other hand, she presses the laser screwdriver into his hand.]

Shoot a paint can. [Pause] And then kiss me again. It's good for my nerves.

[In other words it lets her pretend that they aren't talking about a date that is three months away and they aren't becoming something more than friends with occasional benefits.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[he nods.] Nerves, right. Gotcha.

[He turns to the side and holds out the screwdriver dramatically, squinting one eye shut and taking a deep breath. On the exhale, he presses down and sends green paint exploding in all directions.

And, because he's good at following directions, he presses the screwdriver back into Lucy's hand, using the proximity as an excuse to pull her in and kiss her again.]

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Oh she likes boys that follow directions and this time, she tiptoes up into the kiss, not letting him get away with one of those soft, gentle, light kisses.

She's definitely going for distraction here.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[His hand slides up from her wrist to her shoulder, drawing her in gently as he smiles into the kiss. Distraction is a definite can-do here, inasmuch as it means getting to be close to The Girl.]

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[If she knew he called her The Girl in his head there would be simultaneous awwing and absolute fear and a good deal of tumbling head long even faster into love with him.

She keeps the kiss unbroken, running her fingers through his hair until her knees are weak, her whole body is tingling and she's no longer worried about anything: feelings or being nauseous from nerves. The best and possibly only good thing about being City!Dead is that she can kiss him until he can't catch his breath. She pulls away with a grin.]

Okay. Focus. One paint can left and it's the red one. Gonna help a girl out and shoot it with me?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[He grins.] Sure.

[He moves to stand behind her, arms wrapping around to match up with hers. He saw a guy at an arcade teaching a girl how to play Area 51 like this once, so he'll play the cool guy for a second and do the same.] Right. Focusing.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[And he steps up to the plate. Good boy. Of course she's going to put some wiggling into the whole equation. She points the laser screw driver at the paint can, wiggles a little more and tilts her head back to look up at him.]

Ready when you are, Stud.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[He offers a toothy smile down at her, and shifts on his feet like he's stepped up to home plate.]

On three?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[She grins back and nods.]

1

2

3!

[And they manage to blow the red paint can away, red paint exploding all over everything.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

That's friggin' sweet! Looks like a campaign on some kind of alien shooter game now. [He laughs and wraps his arms around her, pulling her back against him.]

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[She laughs, leaning back against him, relaxed that way.]

We've shot all the things. Now what?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[He leans in, smiling against her hair.]

Now, we... I dunno. Clean this up, or celebrate or victory or something.